It's Better with Windowshttp://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com
Trends in Operating SystemsWed, 17 Oct 2018 06:17:38 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/cropped-logo-1-32x32.pngIt's Better with Windowshttp://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com
3232Upcoming Updates & Trends for Windows 10http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/upcoming-updates-trends-for-windows-10/
http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/upcoming-updates-trends-for-windows-10/#respondTue, 17 Jan 2017 11:26:21 +0000http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/?p=88Upcoming Updates & Trends for Windows 10 Read More »]]>Almost every user of Microsoft Windows Operating System noticed some kind of a history repeat in the Windows development. It seems that ever since Windows XP first appeared and was adopted in many businesses and companies (by the way it was a great hit), there was some unusual loop. Next generation Windows Vista was skipped, then the corporations adopted Windows 7 also as one of the biggest hits and skipped Windows 8. It is only logical that Windows 10 gets all the fame, and it did. Despite its flaws and unusually common update loops Windows 10 was greatly accepted by most of the businesses out there.

Update Loop

Many Windows 10 users complained about what it seems to be never-ending update loop. However, Microsoft Developers are working on a script that should fix all the issues this operating system is currently having.
The Update is causing many problems for Windows users, these never-ending updates are continuously incoming, and while some users can wait until they’re complete and enjoy their PC, some are stuck in this loop. Unable to complete updates, some users’ computers couldn’t boot therefore leaving users in the cold. Non-functioning computers surely aren’t good news for Microsoft; this is why they announced new script shortly, meaning you won’t have to wait long until your Windows is once again up and running.

Even though the Microsoft officials already announced the script, there is no exact date of when it will be ready for Windows 10 users or even the insiders. We were told it would be soon, and all we can do is wait. In the meantime, some fixes might help your Windows come alive.

How to Fix Windows Update

Windows Update is supposed to work in the background without making any trouble. However, if it cannot update a particular update, it can stop therefore causing your computer to malfunction. Something you can always use is Windows Troubleshooter if that doesn’t help seek professional help rather than reading Internet articles which sometimes can be wrong.

Troubleshooting

If you want to fix your computer on your own, you can try troubleshooting. Open your Control Panel, open System & Security section and click Fix Problems with Windows Update. Windows Update Troubleshooting panel will appear before you, click Advanced, then check the Apply repairs automatically checkbox and then click Run as Administrator and therefore next button. It should fix your problems if it’s not something more serious.

]]>http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/upcoming-updates-trends-for-windows-10/feed/0Android Mobile Apps Development – Upcoming Trends of 2017http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/android-mobile-apps-development-upcoming-trends-of-2017/
http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/android-mobile-apps-development-upcoming-trends-of-2017/#respondTue, 10 Jan 2017 11:13:42 +0000http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/?p=75Android Mobile Apps Development – Upcoming Trends of 2017 Read More »]]>Android devices are overflowing market nowadays, almost every person in the world has an Android device. In the light of this, Android app developers are working on new apps and improving Android technology in general. This operating system stands out of the crowd when games are in question, its success cannot be compared to any other technology giant, and as the predictions go, it will stay that way even in 2017. Here are some other upcoming trends you might find interesting.

Upcoming Trends

When it comes to the future trends for 2017, the tendencies stay the same as they were in 2016, technology giants are aspiring to improve privacy, develop enterprise apps and so on, however, in 2017 we will probably witness a few novel and unknown technologies.

1. Privacy is in the first place

A large number of individuals is considering privacy to be number one on the list of necessary features for next generation devices and operating systems, and technology giants are sharing their vision. Android developers are putting more and more effort to find a new way to protect your mobile data and secure your devices. Protecting online transactions is of the utmost importance for big enterprises, that’s why Google announced and designed a security app that is a solution for all Android mobile software. Protecting valuable data will be a piece of cake.

2. Wearable Apps

In the past, wearable devices and apps were designed mostly for the healthcare industry, but then the development started and now we have different types of smart watches. However, development isn’t going to stop anytime soon, so you can expect something unique, new and unprecedented to happen. What will it be? We have yet to see. Improvement of the Android Wear we have today is bound to happen.

3. Payment Services

You can forget about PayPal and Payoneer as well as other payment methods; Google announced the collaboration with major payment technology companies which is bound to give birth to unique and widespread payment plan. Further development and improvement of Google Wallet and Android Pay should allow you to use this payment method all over the Internet, using the Buy with Android Pay button.

Even though we mentioned only three upcoming trends for Android Operating System, there is no doubt that the 2017 year will be a year of leading technology, so stay informed and wait for miracles to happen. Upgrades for your Android devices are coming.

]]>http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/android-mobile-apps-development-upcoming-trends-of-2017/feed/0iOS Trends for 2017http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/ios-trends-for-2017/
http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/ios-trends-for-2017/#respondMon, 02 Jan 2017 11:24:28 +0000http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/?p=81iOS Trends for 2017 Read More »]]>The popularity of Apple devices and iOS speaks enough of its quality; the fact that Apple earned over 1 billion dollars only for app purchases is amazing, and all that in the one year period. However, the development of their business is neither slowing down nor going down completely, just the opposite, the constant arrival of the new devices announces that the new trends will soon overflow the market.

Upcoming iOS App Development Trends

Since apps are the most interesting part when it comes to the Apple Operating System, we will inform you about upcoming trends in this area of business.

1. Swift Coding

Objective-C will soon be replaced by the new programming method called Swift Coding. Even though you certainly had an opportunity to see it already and it isn’t brand new, it still has many interesting and significant advantages such as ease of use and navigable learning curve. It went open source in 2015, but the Apple will continue to use it for iOS, Apple Watches, and TV operating systems.

2. GPS and AR apps

Location based application and games indeed marked the 2016 year, and Pokemon GO was such a hit, people were never happier nor excited to use these apps. Apple promises to design individual GPS driven apps shortly. However, that’s not all. We heard whispers that Apple will be using the combination of the GPS and AR or Augmented Reality technologies which certainly announces big things.

3. Security

Security was always important to Apple; iOS is known for its privacy and safety features, and Apple doesn’t plan to leave it behind. Mobile data security is one of the biggest concerns nowadays, for both ordinary people and technology giants, but Apple is doing everything in their power to secure its operating systems and keep their clients safe. Innovative data encryption systems are almost there, as promised by Apple company. iOS App developers are already working on designing and creating stronger encryption systems.

4. Real-Time Customer Interaction

Enterprise, mobile app development, is bound to get better two ways – improving and introducing real-time customer interaction and dynamical management of data and tasks. Apple announces improvements in this area of development, and according to their revenues, the apps will be amazing just like those before them. Even though Android Operating System can sometimes be a better choice for enterprises solely because majority uses Android devices, people who are faithful to Apple devices swear on their better quality.

]]>http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/ios-trends-for-2017/feed/0The Value of Recovery Points in Your Data Backuphttp://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/the-value-of-recovery-points-in-your-data-backup/
http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/the-value-of-recovery-points-in-your-data-backup/#respondTue, 27 Oct 2015 06:11:54 +0000http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/?p=69The Value of Recovery Points in Your Data Backup Read More »]]>Data backup and recovery has two critical goals. The Recovery Time is the expected length of time between a system failure or a data interruption to be corrected. A crash that keeps employees from access to data for an hour is obviously less devastating than one that keeps employees from working for days. The Recovery Point describes the point in time at which a system and its data is protected. Both elements of data backup and recovery are critical in an overall data protection strategy.

Determining a recovery point can be tricky. There is an automatic assumption that the best recovery point is immediate and continuous. Clearly, having only five minutes of risk with data is better than five hours or five days, right? The answer might surprise you. For a company with minimal alteration of data, a day might represent acceptable risk. Many professional offices, for example, have critical data that is updated infrequently. A nightly backup might fully address the needs of the company. Other enterprises might have ongoing and constant data modification, making a much shorter recovery time necessary. Essentially, the number of updates and the cost of losing those modifications all must be factored into the calculation of the optimal recovery point.

The decision should be made as all business decisions should be made, by weighing the costs of implementing a strategy against the benefits. Backup and recovery costs include the software, its implementation, and the ongoing operations of its use. Certain software products may require an interruption in accessibility to the data or system downtime. All of these issues impact a company’s decision-making when determining the right point. In some cases, a recovery point may not be static. Monday through Thursday may allow for a twelve-hour acceptable risk while Friday may have critical data updates that may require multiple back-up procedures.

One of the problems companies face is that most of the data protection strategy analysis is done by software companies who create packages designed for a broad number of circumstances. This is effective for the software companies but is ineffective in terms of the operational management of a company. Each business has needs that should be addressed by the management of that business. Determining a recovery point should not be left to the functionality of a particular product or even to an IT department. Like any other aspect of business contingency planning, it is the responsibility of management to make the call.

]]>http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/the-value-of-recovery-points-in-your-data-backup/feed/0Google Embracing the Internet of Things with Brillohttp://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/google-embracing-the-internet-of-things-with-brillo/
http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/google-embracing-the-internet-of-things-with-brillo/#respondFri, 29 May 2015 04:22:26 +0000http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/?p=59Google Embracing the Internet of Things with Brillo Read More »]]>There are a lot of philosophers who suggested that everything in the universe is interconnected, that we are all bound by something larger than ourselves. We may not see it, but some believe that it’s there, thinner than a spider-web.

Take this concept and apply it on the real world and you got what we now call the internet of things.

IoT or (The Internet of Things)

IoT is the idea that everything can be connected. All it needs is an on and off switch. Take a smart-home for example.

A smart home is where there are a lot of devices that has the ability to interact with each other. From TV, toasters, and stereos to your house’s security system like electronic locks and alarm systems – these devices can communicate with each other, as well as gather and send data over at the cloud.

But isn’t just “things” that are included in the list. There can be people and animals too. A person who has a heart monitor implant or an animal with a health tracking chip are also under its scope.

Brillo

“So what’s this got to do with a site whose main focus is writing about operating systems?” you might ask. Well, that’s because Google is poised to announce their new OS for the internet of things.

That’s right. The tech giant is going to be releasing a new operating system, called Brillo, which will basically be a smaller version of their Android designed to cater low power devices running with only 32 or 64MB of RAM.

The significance of this is that by having all the devices working under one system it eliminates the compatibility issues of these devices thereby easing their connectivity with one another. They might come from different manufacturers but if performing in a single OS a lot of existing problems will be solved.

This is Google’s vision, of course. There are a lot of companies right now developing similar OS hoping that they can take full hold of this niche in the market. However, Google seems to be ahead at the moment with their product scheduled to be showed off at Google I/O 2015.

Tip of the Iceberg

A lot of people are still in the dark as to what exactly does internet of things holds for them or for the future for that matter.

As said earlier, IoT has the capability of sending data over at the cloud. From a smaller scale, say, a toothbrush, can record strokes and strength of how you brush your teeth earlier. This data can then be analyze if your brushing technique is healthy or is damaging your gums.

From a larger scale, companies can monitor and compile this data to determine and predict the rise and fall of trends in their market. It can create patterns on how companies can draft and decide which marketing strategy to use to lower the risk of whatever path they chose to take next. And this is just the tip of it.

Of course, the burning question that a lot of people are voicing is that is this technology threatening the privacy of everyone in the planet? Well, that may just be what we’ll talk about on our next article.

]]>http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/google-embracing-the-internet-of-things-with-brillo/feed/0Getting Your Fill of Intelligent Computing – What the Future Holds with the Rise of Watsonhttp://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/getting-your-fill-of-intelligent-computing-what-the-future-holds-with-the-rise-of-watson/
http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/getting-your-fill-of-intelligent-computing-what-the-future-holds-with-the-rise-of-watson/#respondFri, 15 May 2015 16:17:53 +0000http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/?p=48Getting Your Fill of Intelligent Computing – What the Future Holds with the Rise of Watson Read More »]]>

The IBM super-computer named Watson caused quite a stir by winning in Jeopardy! Since this technology is possible what can it do for you?

On February 14, 2011, history was made when a computer developed by IBM named Watson competed with two former Jeopardy! champions and in a three-day tournament and ended up the winner. This occasion fomented a lot of buzz in different directions related to what this technology means. Everything from the beginning of Skynet and the Terminator to a system that can augment the health care industry was mentioned.

To me, this technology is similar to what happened to computers in general. In 1946 the United States military built a computer, ENIAC, weighing in at 30 tons with a footprint the size of two tractor trailers. Now, in 2011, I type on a laptop, literally on my lap, without crushing me to death. Or look at today’s cellular phones. In the last century we could call people, store contacts and send text messages. Some of those first phones looked like a GI Joe phone, large and clunky. In my pocket is a smart phone, performing all the mentioned functions. It can also connect to the Internet, act as a GPS, place music and take photos and videos. Keep this in mind as I briefly describe Watson’s hardware.

The Driving Force Behind Watson

Watson is driven by ten racks of 90 IBM Power 750 servers running Linux. Each machine contains 32 POWER7 cores or processors, running at 3.55 GHz, for a total of 2880 cores. This is like having 2880 3.55 GHz computers linked together running as one machine.

To put this in perspective, a single processor computing the information to provide a Jeopardy!-style answer (in the form of a question of course) would take two hours to complete, whereas Watson takes about three seconds, on par with a human being. All this iron requires two twenty-ton commercial air conditioning units. For a network, Watson isn’t connected to the Internet, but uses ten gigabit network speed. This is 90,000 times faster than a typical home network. All of this weighs in over forty-five tons filling a rather large room.

For the software, Watson uses Natural Language Processing to handle the processing of the answers in Jeopardy! It’s also designed using UIMA (Unstructured Information Management Architecture), the foundation for its programs that analyze the objects such as text, audio and images.

Computational Powerhouse

All this hardware combines for some amazing processing power. Watson is capable of running at 80 teraflops (a teraflop is one trillion operations per second). The human brain is capable of more but the actual figure isn’t really known. Some say 100 teraflops, others say 10,000. Either way, this computer is surely up there in computational ability. Just think, this helped Watson provide the Jeopardy!-style answers in a form of a question in three seconds from receiving the text message representing the answer on the game board.

In this respect, Watson is a computer representing the capability of assisting the human intellect in ways we’ve only been able to dream about. This sort of computer has applications in the medical field, education and other professional areas. Anywhere we have large volumes of information that require expedient access can use this computer’s help. But what can such a machine do for the individual?

My Avatar, My Assistant

Right now having your own Watson is too impractical. It takes up too much room, uses too much energy and has a clumsy interface. However, in due time something like Watson can conceivably take up the size of a laptop computer. In the near future, this “laptop” will be capable of gathering your requests, maybe scheduled in the morning and off it goes to complete the tasks at hand.

I imagine this with the work I do. I write lots of test programs to represent customer problems. These tests are used to troubleshoot the problem and eventually used in test suites to make sure problems don’t come back in the software. This work requires setting up the data in a database to test against, creating the application project, running various iterations of the test, researching certain concepts applicable to the computer program, installing software and so on. If I were able to provide some of this work to my Watson, I can focus on the creative aspect of the job and together we’d be a productive team.

My typical morning might involve me greeting my computer, my avatar, and then submitting my list of jobs. After work, my assistant can seek traffic-free routes, order some Chinese and tell the house to turn on lights and prepare for our arrival. This technology is coming so get used to it and think of how it can be useful. In this way, it might not be so scary.

]]>http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/getting-your-fill-of-intelligent-computing-what-the-future-holds-with-the-rise-of-watson/feed/0The Race on the Mobile Lanehttp://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/the-race-on-the-mobile-lane/
http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/the-race-on-the-mobile-lane/#respondThu, 30 Apr 2015 20:43:19 +0000http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/?p=37The Race on the Mobile Lane Read More »]]>Through the years, Windows have been left behind by its two biggest competitors: iOS and Android. After the head-scratching OS that was Windows 8, more and more people have doubt Microsoft’s capability of keeping up with the race.

But it isn’t over just yet. We might be seeing the third placer strap a rocket on its back and leave skid marks on the asphalt.

Mobile Lane

In order to get ahead with the race, Microsoft still needs to have a significant amount of fuel to not only catch with the competition, but to surpass it and take the lead.

However, unlike your typical race, this one has different lanes and different courses. One course which Microsoft has a potential to take over is the mobile lane.

It’s been often said that in order for a website to really harness large amount of traffic, it has to run smoothly on any devices. And one device that is becoming a ubiquitous product is smartphones, which, currently, is being dominated by Android.

Two Birds in One Stone

The recent announcement by Microsoft is that Windows 10 is allowing Android and iOS developers to port their apps and games directly into the Windows universal apps. Microsoft made this possible by incorporating two new software development kits into their system.

Android developers are now able to use Java and C++ code on Windows 10, while iOS developers can leverage their current Objective C code. But unlike the saying “hitting two birds with one stone” this one is a tad more complicated.

Microsoft’s Terry Myers explained that it’s going to have some similar aspect to what Amazon offers. “If they’re using some Google API… we have created Microsoft replacement for these APIs,” Myers added.

The whole concept is to get developer’s attention and encourage them to port their existing codes across by changing it as little as possible, then have them take advantage of Window capabilities like Cortana, Xbox Live, Holograms, Live Tiles, and many others.

The Idea’s Significance

These new software development kit (SDK) might just what Microsoft need to create a path that would drive developers to their side. Currently, the company is working with developers like King, the creator of the ever so popular Candy Crush game, to find easier ways of porting games into Windows. Candy Crush, on its present state on the Windows phone, has been converted from iOS using Microsoft tool without any changes.

It’s still too early to judge whether or not this move by Microsoft will further drag them down or put steam on their engine.

The question is will developers simply port their codes across Microsoft’s side or build it further up? I guess we’ll just have to find out until Microsoft 10’s release. Until that time comes the road is still unclear for this company’s place on the current mobile race.

]]>http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/the-race-on-the-mobile-lane/feed/0Deciding to Customize Your Own Computerhttp://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/deciding-to-customize-your-own-computer/
http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/deciding-to-customize-your-own-computer/#respondWed, 25 Mar 2015 07:47:02 +0000http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/?p=31Deciding to Customize Your Own Computer Read More »]]>There’s a mark of pride that comes from completing a customized computer. From buying the parts to piecing them together, the moment that computer comes on and doesn’t catch fire, it’s an achievement. The sense of satisfaction that comes from using a computer after putting it together by hand simply cannot be duplicated by a pre-made machine.

Building one’s own computer can be rewarding, exciting, and an adventure. It also can run the gamut of frustrating, incomprehensible, and headache inducing. But with a little bit of experience, and a liberal dash of reading and understanding, building a customized computer is well within the grasp of anyone who dares try it out.

To start with, consider the advantages of building a computer, as well as the necessary concerns and the potential pitfalls on the path to a custom computer.

Advantages to Building a Custom Computer

The biggest advantage is building a custom PC is that it’s just that – customized for one’s individual computer experience. The hardware needs of an avid gamer are different from a casual Internet surfer, and it’s easy to get too much computer when buying out of a box. By identifying what the computer will be used for and what hardware best accentuates that usage, one can create a computer that best fits their needs.

A frugal side benefit is that if the old desktop still has functional components they can be re-purposed into the new computer; there’s no need to throw them out, so long as they work together with all the new parts. If the current case is big and sturdy enough, there’s no reason to replace it. Reusing the functional pieces of an old computer also eliminates trash; not all computer components are necessarily safe to throw away.

It also helps to know every piece that goes into the computer – if something should malfunction there’s nothing stopping the owner popping the box open to check the problem. There are no warranties to void, and no tech support to argue with.

Absolute Necessities to Building a Computer

When deciding to build a computer, bear in mind that it’s going to take a little bit of research to compose a computer that’s optimized for the user’s needs, budget, and time. Designing a top of the line computer in the imagination can be tantalizing, but the price tag tends to be top of the line as well.

The most critical components to consider are the motherboard, the processor, and the RAM. No matter how the computer is being used, these are the hardiest pieces of the computer. The easiest way to see what kind of power the custom computer will need is to check the system requirements of commonly used software. For instance, the system requirements for Ubuntu 10.04 are significantly less than Windows 7 — thus the user planning to install Ubuntu can safely purchase a smaller hard drive than the Windows user.

Other computer components vary depending on the user; gamers and artists are going to need a serious video card and more processing power than writers and casual users.

Also, having a proper environment to build a computer in is key. Excess static can be hazardous to computer components, and small computer pieces can be hazardous to small children and pets. Making sure that everything can be completed in a place that’s safe for both machine and man is something that needs to be considered.

Potential Pitfalls to Building a Computer

Sometimes the pros can become quick cons. Should a malfunction occur, there is no warranty to lean on, and no factory to send it off to for a quick repair. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing depends on the temperament and experience of the owner.

Many of the big pieces are pretty easy to attach to the motherboard; things like the video card, sound card, and many of the power supply cords are as simple as piece A into slot B. However, other parts of computer construction can be more taxing: positioning the motherboard into the case, making sure that the heat sink is working with the processor, and fitting all the components into the case are marginally more difficult tasks.

Knowing the components is crucial. More than making sure that the video card can play all the latest games, it’s important to make sure that it will be compatible with the motherboard of your choice, and that the chosen processor has enough oomph to make everything run smoothly.

Arranging the components to prevent overheating can be all-too-easy to overlook — the power supply cords can be especially troublesome to sort and move for proper air-flow, and are big culprits in disrupting the movement of hot air inside the computer. It’s critical to have enough fans to keep everything cool, both for exhaust and auxiliary fans for any high-heat components.

Understanding the Computer

The best thing to do, before jumping right into building a new computer? Learn. Read tutorials on how to customize a computer. Look around and experiment inside the home desktop, if possible. Get the feel for the inside of the machine and avoid going in blind. That way when the old computer eventually does break down, or is so obsolete that it’s become more paperweight that machine, all that’s left to do is buy the new pieces and have some fun.

]]>http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/deciding-to-customize-your-own-computer/feed/0Microsoft 10: Can it Deliver?http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/microsoft-10-can-it-deliver/
http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/microsoft-10-can-it-deliver/#respondSun, 22 Mar 2015 03:12:16 +0000http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/?p=24Microsoft 10: Can it Deliver? Read More »]]>While the wait has finally been concluded with Microsoft announcing the release date of their latest operating system – Windows 10 – people have turned their attention to the features and advantages that this new OS can put on the table, as well as other news circulating this operating system.

A surprising step

Microsoft’s new OS is set to be release this summer and it’s been announced that it’s going to be free – for the first year, at least – and yes, even for pirates. This means that all pirated copies of Windows 7 and 8 is eligible for the free upgrade similar to those who have been paying for the OS for years.

It’s a surprising move that can benefit the company in the long run. The free update has been speculated as being a response to the large number of piracy in China.

Lenovo, a computer and mobile device company based on China that sells their products across the globe and its own market, has struck a deal with Microsoft. The goal is to bring the new OS to millions of the country’s PC users.

The company has also shook hands with Xiaomi, one of China’s most prominent smartphone manufacturers. Xiaomi has agreed to bundle Windows 10 on their product allowing users to experience how smoothly the new OS can run on smartphones.

Microsoft 10’s new feature

Internet Explorer has been chuck out. Yes, the browser that almost everyone rolls their eyes at has been replaced by Spartan, which is deemed to be faster, reliable, and offers new ways of sharing web pages and other information.

Windows 10 is a more simplified version of its former self with greater performance, and is design to run on small and large devices like phones and TVs, as well as on new kinds of computers including Microsoft’s own holographic headset.

You’ll see images, icons, projects you’re working on while wearing it. Users can also make a Skype call using the product, and because it’s a transparent device you won’t be bumping your hips on side tables while walking during conversations.

Cortana, Microsoft’s voice assistant, is also making its way to PC users. Cortana’s functions are similar to Siri and can perform complicated tasks such as sending e-mails, pulling files, conduct a computer search, and many others. The company is quick to point out that the version is still being improved and is in its development state, though during their presentation, the voice recognition seemed to be performing swimmingly.

Microsoft hasn’t left gamers out. With the new operating system, Microsoft users can play against people with Xbox One through the Xbox Live app which works on PCs, phones, and tablets.

People’s verdict

There are a lot of people fairly impressed during Microsoft’s presentation with their new OS, but there are also others who are either dissatisfied or unconvinced.

One point that’s been brought up is regarding the Start button that had people shaking their heads when Microsoft 8.1 came out. There are also doubts among others that the new OS wouldn’t be as different as its last predecessor saying that they’d rather stick to Windows 7 if this will be so.

Whatever the case may be, it’s fair to say that it’s too early to bring the verdict on Microsoft 10 as the OS is still a work in progress. Users – we – will have to judge the whole thing when it’s finally available.

]]>http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/microsoft-10-can-it-deliver/feed/0Investing the Smart Way with Your Computer Systemshttp://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/investing-the-smart-way-with-your-computer-systems/
http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/investing-the-smart-way-with-your-computer-systems/#respondThu, 26 Feb 2015 22:33:12 +0000http://www.itsbetterwithwindows.com/?p=20Investing the Smart Way with Your Computer Systems Read More »]]>Computers are expensive to buy and expensive to upgrade but relying on old equipment or forsaking upgrades could cost you dear in the long run. So, how can you save here?

Computers are still one the biggest investments for business and so it might seem like an obvious candidate for cuts. But an antiquated or unreliable computer system can be a millstone around the neck of any organization. Whether it’s Microsoft or Apple, downtime due a crashed IT system is wasted time. Old hardware and software go down more often than newer, debugged versions.

If staff numbers are reduced then more procedures will necessarily be carried out automatically by computer. Running older software can make a company’s systems incompatible with those of suppliers and customers, while attempting to run new software on older computers also presents a host of technical problems.

Cloud Computing Can Save Money

But it is possible to keep costs down while maintaining an effective, up to date IT infrastructure. Like so many suppliers, IT companies are reducing prices and offering discounts in the current economic climate. More generally, almost by its very nature the cost of computing equipment falls as technology evolves. Meanwhile, new developments such as cloud computing and open source software can offer benefits to business as they have been doing to individuals.

Because cloud computing involves companies using data storage and other facilities run by a third party, it means that they are, in effect, outsourcing much of their IT systems. If, for instance, they suddenly need more data storage capacity or computing muscle, instead of having to buy the necessary equipment, they can simply rent what they need from their cloud computing supplier, be it Google, Microsoft or any of the smaller entrants into this fast growing market.

Reducing an IT requirement is also quicker and simpler for companies using this very flexible system. It can help with cash flow as clients in effect rent space and technology rather than paying out large sums to purchase it.

Cloud Computer and Security

Worldwide cloud computer service revenue is set to surpass $56.3 billion in 2009, a 21.3 per cent increase from 2008, Gartner, Inc, the research company announced in a report called Forecast: Sizing the Cloud; Understanding the Opportunities in Cloud Services, on March 26th last year. The market is expected to reach $150.1 billion in 2013, said Gartner. Rightly or wrongly, though, some IT directors still harbor concerns about the security of using external servers. Data and IT security is one area where cuts could lead to serious problems and outages as fraudsters become more sophisticated and well resourced themselves.

Equally fast growing is open source software, which is available for any interested party to contribute improvements and amendments to its code. This too can also help reduce costs – upgrades are more frequent than proprietary software and they are, of course, free. Systems such as Mozilla and Linux have revolutionized the domestic and now the business computing market. Linux, for instance, was created by a Finnish student in the early nineties but is now used by IBM and Hewlett-Packard amongst others.

Getting Customer Relationship Management Right

According to Robert Epstein, Head of Small Business for Microsoft UK, in an email interview with the author, other innovations such as Customer Relationship Management systems and what are known as unified communications, in other words the combining of email, voicemail and SMS, can also bring dividends when it comes to delivering IT which is not only cost effective but can improve business performance in a difficult market by enabling people to respond to changing business conditions with greater insight and speed than ever before.

Even in a downturn, keeping your technology up to date is a worthwhile investment.